Kohli’s Struggles Continue in Adelaide
Virat Kohli’s challenging return to One Day International cricket took another hit as he was dismissed for a second consecutive duck during the ongoing three-match series against Australia in Adelaide on Thursday. Batting first, Kohli came to the crease following the fall of India’s captain Shubman Gill but was trapped leg-before wicket by seamer Xavier Bartlett after facing just four balls in the seventh over. Opting not to challenge the decision, Kohli walked off without scoring, marking his first-ever duck at his favored overseas venue.
Slow Start for India’s Top Order
India’s innings got off to a sluggish start under pressure from the Australian bowling attack after captain Mitchell Marsh elected to field first. Opener Rohit Sharma struggled to build momentum, managing only six runs off his first 20 deliveries—his lowest score in an innings since the 2019 World Cup.
Analyzing Kohli’s Recent Form and Historical Struggles
- For the first time in his extensive 304-match ODI career, Kohli has now been dismissed for ducks in two back-to-back games. Previously, he had only suffered consecutive ducks across different formats (Test and T20I) in Ahmedabad during 2021.
- This match marked only the second occasion that Kohli has been dismissed without scoring in an ODI in Australia, and the fourth duck overall against the Australian side.
- The duck in Adelaide was Kohli’s 40th in international cricket, placing him just behind Zaheer Khan (43) for the most ducks by an Indian player across formats.
Kohli’s Fitness and Confidence Ahead of the Series
Before the series began in Perth, Kohli had expressed confidence in his physical fitness despite the lengthy gap since his last appearance for India during the Champions Trophy final. Speaking on Fox Sports with Ravi Shastri and Adam Gilchrist, Kohli highlighted his extensive cricketing workload over the past 15-20 years, including IPL commitments. “It was a very refreshing time off. I’m feeling as fit, if not fitter, than I’ve ever been before,” he said. “The freshness comes from knowing what to do on the field and focusing on physical preparation.”
Dismissal Details and Impact on Kohli’s Adelaide Record
Kohli’s dismissal came at the hands of Mitchell Starc, who bowled a tempting delivery outside off stump. Kohli attempted a drive but mistimed the shot, sending the ball to backward point where Cooper Connolly executed a remarkable catch. This marked Kohli’s first-ever duck at Adelaide Oval, denting his previously impressive record at the venue where he remains the highest-scoring visiting batsman with 975 runs and five centuries across formats.
